Peugeot Teases New 208 Type Type R5

French automaker prepares its new hatchback for rally competition. 208 Type R5 to be unveiled in Paris.

When the doors open in a couple of weeks at the Paris Motor Show, Peugeot will have a whole slew of new cars to unveil: the Onyx supercar concept, the 2008 crossover concept, the new 208 and the updated RCZ. Now we can add one more to the list: the 208 Type R5. Based on the latest Peugeot hatchback, the 208 Type R5 is about ready to tackle the rally circuit. It replaces the outgoing 207 Super 2000 rally car, the new R5 conforms to the latest FIA regulations with a 1.6-liter turbo four with around 280 horsepower replacing the previous 2.0.

The power is put down to the dirt, snow or tarmac through all four wheels and a five-speed sequential gearbox, carrying a price tag mandated by the FIA to be no higher than 180,000 euros. The question is whether the new Peugeot 208 Type R5 will be offered only to privateer teams or form a new factory effort for Peugeot Sport which has had little to do since withdrawing from Le Mans. It could, of course, simply carry on the same path as the previous 207 Super 2000 (pictured at right), which Peugeot UK campaigns in the Intercontinetal Rally Challenge.